Publix Deep Fryer Accident Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Publix Deep Fryer Accident Leads to Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Southerners love Publix because of its great deli sandwiches and friendly service, but for one Georgia woman, a freak accident at Publix has led to serious grief and a wrongful death lawsuit.

Publix Wrongful Death Case

The woman’s husband, a vent technician, was working at a Publix in Dacula, Georgia, in June of 2015. To reach a vent, he stepped up onto a deep fryer cover. However, he was unaware that the metal cover was very flimsy — and that the fryer below was filled with scalding cooking oil. When the metal cover gave way, the man’s leg fell into the hot cooking oil, causing serious burns. He died a few weeks later at a local hospital. His exact cause of death is currently unknown, but it’s highly likely that the burns contributed to his death.

His wife thinks that the burns — and Publix’s negligence — caused his wrongful death. She is now filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the store. She seeks compensation for the “full value of life” of her husband. This might include damages for lost wages, lost future wages, and potentially non-economic damages, like loss of companionship.

A Present Danger

Her lawsuit claims that Publix’s negligence led to her husband’s burns and subsequent death. Since the man was not a direct employee of Publix but rather an outside contractor, there was no way for him to know about the danger. To prevent injury, the man should have been warned of the dangers associated with working near a deep fryer. No matter the man’s connection to the company, he should have received warning. He should not have been simply expected to know about the hot oil, like an employee might have.

This is a complicated mix of wrongful death, premise labilities, and potentially worker’s compensation. Hopefully this man’s wife finds the compensation she is looking for, and raises awareness about the importance of marking any dangerous areas or applicances.

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The attorneys at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes represent those involved in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other types of personal injury matters. Our firm is one of the oldest personal injury law firms in Tampa Bay. There are no attorneys’ fees or costs unless we prevail for you. Call our office 24 hours a day at 727-796-8282 or simply click here to schedule a free case consultation.